Remote syncing

Basic method with open ports

Your PDA cannot resolve the hostname of your desktop unless you use some third party app or your hostname is in DNS through your ISP. The easiest thing to do is download PocketHosts (freeware). This app allows you to set up host names and associate IP addresses. It is like the hosts file on your desktop. This will allow you to resolve the hostname of your desktop to sync.

1. Download Pocket Hosts and install it to your PPC.
2. Open the following ports: 5678, 5679, 990 and 999 if you have a firewall.
3. Open Activesync on your PPC to determine the host name it is using to sync with your desktop.
4. Open Pocket Hosts on your PPC and assign the desktop host name with the internet IP address of your desktop. Make sure that a check mark is there next to your entry you just made. Close Pocket Hosts once you are finished.
5. Dial up the internet from your PPC. Once connected, attempt to do an Activesync. It should work.

One thing to keep in mind. If you do wireless syncing via WiFi, it won't work once you do the above steps. To get things working again, open Poclet Hosts and remove the check mark by the hostname of your desktop and close the app. Then wireless syncing will work again. I would leave it unchecked until I truly need to dial into the internet to sync. Then I would go into Pocket Hosts and replace the check mark next to my desktop host name.

Method using Virtual Private Networking

What you need

• Capable router
  • Must have port forwarding/PPTP passthrough
  • Should have DDNS (Dynamic DNS) for convenience and practicality (only necessary if your ISP gives you a dynamic IP address; DSL and cable often provide these).
• Windows XP Pro
  • Set up a PPTP VPN
  • Poke appropriate holes in Windows Firewall (or, better yet, disable it entirely )
• An incredible amount of patience

How to do it

Set up a VPN in Windows XP Pro

1. Control Panel > Network Connections > Create New Connection
2. Set up advanced connection
3. Accept incoming connections
4. Allow virtual private connections
5. Select users allowed to connect (users you select must have passwords set)
6. Accept defaults for Networking Software
7. Finish

Get a DynDNS.org account

(if your ISP gives you a dynamic IP. If not, you can use the IP number currently used for your connection, but understand the settings will need to be updated whenever the IP changes.)

1. Go to www.dyndns.org.
2. Sign up for a free Dynamic DNS account. Be sure to choose a short, easy-to-remember hostname; this is the address you'll put in your Axim to tell it where to connect.

Make appropriate settings in your router

1. Log in to your router. These instructions refer to a Linksys WRT54G but many home routers will allow this. Check your manual for the proper location in the router settings.
2. Security > VPN > PPTP Passthrough > Enable
3. Applications & Gaming > Port Range Forward: Add an entry as follows:
   1. Application: "My VPN" (or whatever you want)
   2. Port Start and End: "1723" (for both)
   3. Protocol: Both (TCP alone may also work)
   4. IP Address: the IP address of the computer where you set up the VPN earlier
   5. Enable: Yes
4. Setup > DDNS: Enter the info for the DynDNS.org account you set up earlier

Make sure Axim connection settings are correct

1. Start > Settings > Connections tab > Connections icon > Advanced tab > Select Networks: select "My ISP" for Internet (the first dropdown) and "My Work Network" for private network (the second dropdown).

Set up a VPN connection in your Axim

1. Start > Settings > Connections tab > Connections icon > My Work Network > Add a new VPN server connection.
2. Name: "My VPN" (or whatever you want)
3. Host name/ IP: the hostname you chose for your DynDNS account
4. VPN type: PPTP
5. User name & Password: credentials for one of the accounts you authorized on the desktop
6. Domain: leave blank
7. Finish

Make sure your current WiFi network is set to use your VPN

1. For all the networks you connect to apart from your home network (Starbucks, etc.), make sure Start > Settings > Connections tab > Network Cards > hotspot name > General tab > Connects to is set to The Internet.

Try it out

Now for the easy part!

1. Make sure all of your equipment is switched on at home (your desktop, router, and modem) and that it's all working correctly.
2. Go to Starbucks (or wherever you want to connect)
3. On your Axim, start ActiveSync and hit Sync.
4. If all goes well, your Axim will automagically connect the VPN and start synching to your desktop at home.